CALLING HOME with Whitney Goodman, LMFT

Whitney talks with Elizabeth Earnshaw, a marriage and family therapist, about navigating relationships with in-laws. They discuss finding common ground, setting boundaries, and the importance of communication. They also explore a conflict over a child's last name and the potential harm of criticizing in-laws. They highlight the benefits of having in-laws involved in one's life and the challenges of merging different family cultures.

Some tips to help you survive Thanksgiving with your family! Expect your family to be the same as they are every other day, complete with their flaws and positive traits. Remember that you are an adult and have the power to decide how you spend your day. Get clear on your limits and plan for when those limits are reached. Identify what is important to you on this day and align your actions with those values. Avoid picking battles or starting a healing journey with your family on this day. If anything goes wrong, remember that a holiday is just a day and it will end. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whitney talks about the impact of emotionally immature parents on their children. She explains that emotionally immature parents often lack empathy, struggle to apologize or admit fault, and are often well-liked in their communities due to their ability to maintain surface-level relationships. They also tend to provide for their children in practical ways, but fail to meet their emotional needs.We also have Calling Home listener questions about this same topic, including coping with 'the silent treatment' and the fear of becoming like them.Awareness of one's own trauma can prevent the repetition of harmful patterns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whitney is talking with Holly Whitaker, author and founder of Tempest, about the impact of alcohol on family dynamics. Holly believes that society's positive messaging around drinking often overlooks the negative impact it can have on relationships. She believes that the question should not be whether one is an alcoholic, but rather if alcohol negatively impacts one's life and if steps should be taken to address the relationship with it. She also discusses the lack of informed consent around alcohol consumption, as many people are not fully aware of the potential consequences. She suggests that if alcohol feels uncomfortable or difficult, it's an invitation to interrogate one's relationship with it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whitney talks how to navigate events and celebrations with a highly dysfunctional family, offering tips on how to deal with difficult family dynamics, such as setting boundaries and preparing for situations that may arise.Introducing The Calling Home community, a platform offering support groups, exclusive content, and Q&A sessions with experts.Listener questions: Dealing with family issues during significant life events, such as weddings and funerals.This week's sponsors are: Alzheimer's Association - join the Walk to End Alzheimer's and help us make a brighter future for all those affected by Alzheimers's. Make a difference today Hello Fresh — use code 50home to save 50% and get free shipping Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whitney talks with Brady Nathan, a mother who shares the story of her late son Jack. Jack started the Happy Jack World Project to help other kids struggling with mental health issues before his untimely death due to a fentanyl-laced Percocet. Brady discusses the importance of listening to children when they express unhappiness, even if their lives seem perfect from an outside perspective. She also emphasizes the need for parents to allow their children to lead their own lives, rather than imposing their own expectations. Brady continues to run the Happy Jack World Project, which has donated over $100,000 to various foundations, and advocates for greater awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and recreational drug use.This week's sponsors are: Hello Fresh — use code 50home to save 50% and get free shipping Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, let's get into the complexities of family dynamics, particularly when two families merge through a relationship or marriage. Understanding and accepting differences in family systems, communication styles, and cultural backgrounds are all key for success ... but not always easy. A good reminder to distinguish between differences that are merely annoying and those that are problematic or dangerous.Listener questions this episode include navigating relationships with religious family members after losing faith, and another about reconciling with the idea that parents did their best with the tools they had, even when it feels like they could have done more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whitney discusses the issue of 'sharenting' or oversharing children's lives on social media with guest Sarah Adams. Sarah is a mother of two, and she argues that this practice can be a form of child exploitation, as it often involves sharing children's experiences with a large and potentially dangerous audience for entertainment purposes. She wants parents to reconsider the impact this could have on their children's future and their right to privacy.Sarah also discusses the different categories of parents who overshare, including new parents, 'medical mamas' who share their children's medical information, and those who seek online popularity. She advises parents to reflect on their sharing practices and to treat their children as autonomous human beings rather than props for content. Qeepsake – use code CALLINGHOME to get 20% off your annual subscription. We text you questions and you text us the memories you want to hold tight. Alzheimer's Association - join the Walk to End Alzheimer's and help us make a brighter future for all those affected by Alzheimers's. Make a difference today Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Calling Home, Whitney discusses the impact of parent-child relationships in the context of substance abuse. She shares a story about a young man who was introduced to drugs by his mother at the age of 12, highlighting the long-term effects of such experiences. Whitney emphasizes the importance of understanding the needs that children are trying to communicate through their actions and decisions.She also answers listener questions about feeling abandoned by a parent and how to reconnect with estranged adult children. Whitney advises patience, understanding, and willingness to hear and respect the perspectives of the children in these situations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Psychologist and author Josh Coleman joins Whitney to talk through navigating difficult relationships between parents and their adult children. Dr. Coleman emphasizes the importance of parents being willing to engage in open, non-defensive conversations with their adult children to rebuild connections. He also discusses the cultural shift in family dynamics over the past half-century, with younger generations placing more emphasis on mental health, happiness, and personal growth.Whitney and Dr. Coleman agree that both parents and adult children have a role to play in repairing relationships, but ultimately, the responsibility lies with the parents. They also discuss the impact of high expectations on parent-child relationships, with Dr. Coleman suggesting that parenting only plays a small part in how individuals turn out, with genetics, social class, and other factors playing a larger role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices